Ski pole grip



I United States Patent nu 3,545,784

[72] Inventor Ivor John Alsop 1,697,833 1/1929 Lane 24/197 P.O. Box 23,Bellingham, Washington FOREIGN PATENTS 98225 72,418 8/1931 Sweden280/11.37(BH) [21] Appl. No. 740,745 Filed June 1968 195,361 4/1938Switzerland 280/11.37(BH) [45] Patented I). s, 1970 PrimaryExaminer-Banjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith SK] POLE GmAttorney-Sherman Levy 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. 280/1L37 [51] Int. Cl A63c 11/22 [50] Field of Search 280/ 13(3), ABSTRACT: A ski pole grip wherein there is provided abanl1.37(B-BT) dle which is connected to an end of a pole, and whereinthere is provided an adjustable strap which is adapted to surround or[56] References cued engage a portion of the users hand rather than thewrist, and UNITED STATES PATENTS wherein the adjustable strap isconnected to the ski pole by 3,436,090 4/1969 Langeetal. .;.280/11.37(BH) means of an adapter.

PATENTEDnEc 8 I970 T N E V V m Ivcnz I. 'ALLsop ATTORNEY SKIPOLEGRIPBACKGROUND OF THE rNvENnoN 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention pertains to Class 280, subclasses 1I.37,ll.38andll.39.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art includes the followingprior U.S. Pat. Nos.: 2,208,365; 2,347,789; 2,627,421; 3,1 13,786;3,378,272.

Some of the difierencesor advantages that the present invention has overthese prior patents is as follows:

The ski pole grip providesincreased support for the hand and wrist ascompared to the previous devices, and wherein the present inventionprevents the pole from being accidentally dropped from the hand, andwherein increased safety is assured, the ski pole grip also having animproved appearance and adapted to used with any pole grip.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is afragmentary perspective showing the ski pole and grip in use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end elevational view of the ski pole grip of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring in detail to thedrawings, the numeral indicates the ski pole grip of the presentinvention whichcomprises a handle 11 that has a recess 13 therein forsnugly receiving an end portion of a ski pole 12, FIG. 3. As shown inthe drawings, the handle 11 has a plurality of finger-engaging recessedportions 14 on one edge thereof, and the recessed portions 14 may beseparated by ridges 15. The opposite longitudinal edge of the handle 11may have a slightly rounded or slightly enlarged portion 16, and thisassures that the handle 11 can be firmly and comfortably gripped bytheuser and, as shown in FIG. 3, the upperandlower ends of the handle 11may be slightly enlarged as at 17 and 18. There is provided in the upperend portion of the handle 11 a slot or cutout 19 which is provided for apurpose to be later described. The numeral 20 indicates a strap thatincludes a first portion 21 which has an aperture 22 therein, and theportion 21 of the strap 20 is positioned in or seated in the slot 19, asshown in the drawings. There is provided in the end of the handle 11 acountersunk opening 23 and the numeral 24 indicates a securing elementor screw which extends through the countersunk opening 23 and throughthe aperture 22 and into engagement with the handle 11 as at 25. Thestrap 20 further includes a second portion 26 which is adjustablyconnected to the first portion 21 by means of a buckle 27. The portion26 of the strap 20 has a loop 28 thereon. The numeral 29 indicates anadapter made of a suitable material such as a suitable plasticsubstance, and the adapter 29 has an aperture or opening 30 therein forthe projection therethrough of the ski pole 12. The adapter 39 furtherincludes a slit or cutout 31 which has the loop 28 of the strap 30arranged in engagement therewith.

FIG. 1 shows the position of the parts when the ski pole grip of thepresent invention is being used, and it will be noted that the strap 20surrounds or. engages a portion of the hand 33, in-

stead of the strap engaging the wrist 34 as do conventional ski.

pole grips. Also, in FIG. 1, the numeral 35 indicates the fingers of thehand 33 and the fingers 35 are adapted to snugly and comfortably gripthe recessed portions 15 of the handle 11.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided animproved ski pole grip, and in use with the parts arranged as shown inthe drawings, the strap 20 is adapted to engage or surround the portionof the user's hand 33, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the strap does notengage the wrist such as the wrist 34 as do conventional ski pole grips.In addition, the present invention includes the adjustable strap 20,that is, the strap 20 includes the first portion 21 as well as thesecond portion 26, and these portions are adjustably connected togetheras by means of the buckle 27 so as to permit the strap to be ad justedto the desired length or size. Further, the strap 20 is provided withthe loop portion 28 which has an adapter 29 connected thereto and theadapter 29 has an opening 30 therein through which extends a portion ofthe ski pole I2. When the parts are properly assembled as shown in thedrawings,'the adapter 29 is positioned just below the lower edge 18 ofthe handle 11. The handle 11 has the recess I3 therein for snuglyreceiving an end portion of the ski pole 12, as shown in the drawings.In addition, the strap 21 has the aperture 22 through which extends thesecuring element or screw 24. The handle 15 includes the recessedportions 14 as well as the side portion 16, and this constructionassures that the handle 11 can be comfortably and firmly gripped in thehand 33 of the user.

It will therefore be seen that, in accordance with the presentinvention, there has been provided a ski pole grip which has importantadvantages over those now in use. For example, the ski pole grip of thepresent invention provides greater support to the hand than previousgrips. Further, the present invention prevents the pole from becomingaccidentally dropped from the hand which frequently occurs during skiingand especially racing when a slalom pole is contacted with the hand orwhen the basket tangles with a bow, twig, or slalom pole. In addition,the ski pole of the present invention is safer to use, because, forexample, if the pole hangs up on a tree, the hand will be pulled out asthe thumb and larger part of the hand do not go through the loop as itdoes in regular or conventional pole straps. Also, the ski pole grip ofthe present invention has an improved appearance and is neater looking.

In the prior ski pole grips the strap wraps around the users wrist,while with the present invention the grip is adapted to be used with anypole grip. Also, the strap attaches at the top similar to the regular orconventional grip and at the bottom under the grip or handle there isprovided an adapter that fits on the pole and a buckle or adjustingmechanism is provided so that the hand fits into the space between thestrap and handle and the strap is cinched .up over the forepart of thehand. This is important or advantageous because it eliminates thenecessity of requiring the entire hand including the thumb to go throughand come down and rest against the wrist as in regular or conventionalgrips.

I claim:

1. A skiers grip comprising a handle having a recess in the lower endthereof, a pole having a portion thereof snugly arranged in said recess,said handle having a plurality of fingerengaging recessed portions onone edge thereof separated by ridges, the opposite edge of the handlehaving a slightly rounded enlarged intennediate portion, the outer endportion of said handle being slightly enlarged, said handle having aslot therein adjacent the upper end thereof, a strap having a firstportion seated in said slot and said first portion having an aperturetherein, a countersunk opening in the end of said handle, a securingelement extending through said countersunk opening and through saidaperture and into engagement with said handle, said strap furtherincluding a second portion, adjustable buckle means interconnecting saidfirst and second portions together, a loop on the lower end of saidsecond portion, an adapter having an aperture therein for the projectiontherethrough of a portion of said pole, and said adapter furtherincluding a slit having said loop arranged in engagement therewith.

2. The structure as defined in claim I, wherein the strap engages thepersons hand and not the wrist.

3. A-skiers grip comprising a handle having arecess in the lower endthereof, apole having a portion thereof snugly arranged in saidrecess,said handle having a plurality of fingerengaging recessed portions onone edge thereof separated by ridges, the opposite edge of thehandleyhaving a. slightly rounded enlarged intennediateportion, theouter end portion of said handle being slightly enlarged, said handlehaving a slot therein adjacent the upper end thereof, a strap having aslot therein adjacent the upper end thereof, a strap having a firstportion seatedin said slot and said first portion havingan aperturetherein, a countersunk opening in the end of said portions together,said second portionhaving an aperture therein for the projectiontherethrough 0f a'portion of said pole.

